Determinants of women small ruminant farmers’ perceptions of climate change impact in Northern Benin

Elodie Dimon; Youssouf Toukourou; Janvier Egah; Alassan Assani Seidou; Rodrigue Vivien Cao Diogo; Ibrahim Alkoiret Traore

doi:10.1071/AN23427

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Next Contents Vol 65(4)

Determinants of women small ruminant farmers’ perceptions of climate change impact in Northern Benin

Elodie Dimon

^A ^* , Youssouf Toukourou ^A , Janvier Egah ^B , Alassan Assani Seidou ^A , Rodrigue Vivien Cao Diogo ^C and Ibrahim Alkoiret Traore ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Laboratory of Ecology, Health, and Animal Production (LESPA), Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, BP 123 Parakou, Parakou, Benin.

^B Society-Environment Laboratory (LaSEn), Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, 01 BP 123, Parakou, Benin.

^C Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management (InSPIREs-SLM), Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, BP 123 Parakou, Parakou, Benin.

^* Correspondence to: dimelodie@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Robyn Alders

Animal Production Science 65, AN23427 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23427

Submitted: 7 January 2024 Accepted: 12 February 2025 Published: 27 February 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

The effectiveness of adaptation strategies employed by women small ruminant farmers to combat climate change depends on the accuracy of their perceptions. However, these women’s perceptions are not well understood and are seldom considered in climate change adaptation policies.

Aims

The aim of this study is to analyze the perceptions of women herders of small ruminants on the effects of climate change in four communes in northern Benin.

Methods

A total of 120 women farmers were purposefully selected and surveyed. Sociodemographic parameters and the perception rates of these farmers were analyzed using a multinomial logit model to understand the determinants of climate change perception.

Key results

All surveyed women perceived the effects of climate change, such as delayed rains (73%), early cessation of rains (70%), floods (87.5%), irregular rainfall (62.5%), poor spatial distribution of rains (98%), increased heat (95%), reduced coolness (61.17%), increased strong winds (81%) and wind direction instability (64%) over the past 20 years. Age, education level, farming experience, family size, extension contact, the number of sheep and the number of goats were factors that contributed to evaluating these women’s perceptions of climate change.

Conclusions

In conclusion, climate change is making livestock farming highly vulnerable. It leads to a scarcity of pastoral resources and a deterioration in animal health. This study recommends promoting training actions for women pastoralists, so that they could be better prepared for preventing and coping with climatic disasters.

Implications

Future research should compare the differences in adaptation strategies implemented by men and women herders who are better prepared to prevent and cope with climate-related disasters.

Keywords: Benin, climate change perception, small ruminant farmers, women.

References

Abdou H, Adamou Karimou I, Harouna BK, Zataou MT (2020) Breeders’ perception of climate change and strategies for adapting to environmental constraints: the case of the commune of Filingué in Niger. Revue D’élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire Des Pays Tropicaux 73(2), 81-90.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Abraham A, Mohamed-Brahmi A, Ngoundo M (2019) Resilience of livestock systems in the Sahelian band of Chad (case of the Kanem region): adaptation tools to climate change. Journal of New Sciences, Sustainable Livestock Management 11(1), 222-230.
| Google Scholar |

Association Adéquations (2009) Concepts & outils pratiques du genre – centre de ressources en ligne. Extrait du Site de l’Association Adéquations. p. 6.

Afouda AP, Hougni A, Balarabe O, Kindemin OA, Yabi AJ (2020) Déterminants de l’adoption de la pratique d’intégration agriculture-élevage dans la commune de Banikoara (Benin). Agronomie Africaine 32(2), 159-168.
| Google Scholar |

Amadou LM, Villamor GB, Attua ME, Traoré SB (2015) Comparing farmers’ perception of climate change and variability with historical climate data in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Ghana Journal of Geography 7(1), 47-74.
| Google Scholar |

Béral C, Andueza D, Ginane C, Bernard M, Liagre F, Girardin N, Emile JC, Novak S, Grandgirard D, Deiss V, Bizeray-Filoche D, Thiery M, Rocher A (2018) Agroforesterie en système d’élevage ovin: étude de son potentiel dans le cadre de l’adaptation au changement climatique. Available at http://www.parasol.projet-agroforesterie.net/

Beye A (2018) Perception et gestion des risques climatiques en milieu pastoral Sénégalais. In ‘Annales de l’universite de Lome, serie sciences economiques et de gestion’. Vol. XII. pp. 143–171. (University De Lome Togo) Available at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Assane_Beye/publication/342098017_PERCEPTION_ET_GESTION_DES_RISQUES_CLIMATIQUES_EN_MILIEU_PASTORAL_SENEGALAIS/links/5ee21757299bf1faac4afa64/PERCEPTION-ET-GESTION-DES-RISQUES-CLIMATIQUES-EN-MILIEU-PASTORAL-SENEGALAIS.pdf

Blanfort V, Vigne M, Vayssières J, Lasseur J, Ickowicz A, Lecomte P (2015) Les l’élevage dans la contribution à l’adaptation et l’atténuation du changement climatique au Nord et au Sud. Agronomie, Environnement et Société 5(1), 107-115 Available at https://agritrop.cirad.fr/592032/.
| Google Scholar |

Chingala G, Mapiye C, Raffrenato E, Hoffman L, Dzama K (2017) Determinants of smallholder farmers’ perceptions of impact of climate change on beef production in Malawi. Climatic Change 142, 129-141.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

COP 21 (2016) Traité international juridiquement contraignant sur les changements climatiques. Paris, France, 28p [in French]. Available at https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/french_paris_agreement.pdf

Corniaux C, Lesnoff M, Ickowicz A, Hiernaux P, Diawara MO, Sounon A, Aguilhon M, Dawalak A, Manoli C, Assani B, Jorat T, Chardonnet F (2012) Dynamique des cheptels de ruminants dans les communes de Tessékré (Sénégal), Hombori (Mali), Dantiandou (Niger) et Djougou (Bénin). Contribution de l’élevage à la réduction de la vulnérabilité des ruraux et à leur adaptabilité aux changements climatiques et sociétaux en Afrique de l’Ouest au sud du Sahara. Livrable 3.1., tache elev. p. 43.

Dara (2013) Risk reduction index (RRI) in West Africa analysis of the conditions and capacities for disaster risk reduction in Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, and Senegal. DARA, Madrid, Spain. p. 564.

De Souza W (2014) La place des élites religieuses et traditionnelles au Bénin. L’impact de leurs relations avec les élites politiques sur le maintien de l’État démocratique. Thèse de Doctorat, Science Politique, Université de Bordeaux.

Defrance D, Ramstein G, Charbit S, Vrac M, Famien AM, Sultan B, Swingedouw D, Dumas C, Gemenne F, Alvarez-solas J, Vanderlinden J-P (2017) Consequences of rapid ice sheet melting on the Sahelian population vulnerability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114(25), 6533-6538.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Diao CA, Dia AN (2015) Accompagnement des femmes dans l’adaptation au changement climatique. Food Africa Research for Development Programme is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Diiro G, Petri M, Zemadim B, Sinare B, Dicko M, Traore D, Tabo R (2016) Gendered analysis of stakeholder perceptions of climate change, and the barriers to its adaptation in mopti region in Mali. Research report no. 68. Patancheru 502 324. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Telangana, India. p. 52.

Djohy GL, Sounon Bouko B (2021) Vulnerability and adaptive dynamics of agropastoralists to climate change in the commune of Tchaourou in Benin. Journal of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine of Tropical Countries 74(1), 27-35.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Dugué M-J, Delille H, Malgrange S (2012) Caractérisation des stratégies d’adaptation au changement climatique en agriculture paysanne. Agronomes et vétérinaires sans frontiers. p. 50.

Egah J, Dimon E, Odou JM, Houngue E, Baco MN (2024) Analyse genrée de la vulnérabilité et du mécanisme d’adaptation au changement climatique au Nord-Bénin. VertigO – la revue électronique en sciences de l’environnement [En ligne]
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ehiakpor DS, Danso-abbeam G, Baah JE (2016) Cocoa farmer’s perception on climate variability and its effects on adaptation strategies in the Suaman district of western region, Ghana. Cogent Food & Agriculture 2(1), 1210557.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

FAO (2016) ‘Climate change and food security: risks and responses.’ (FAO) Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5188e.pdf

Feleke FB, Berhe M, Gebru G, Hoag D (2016) Determinants of adaptation choices to climate change by sheep and goat farmers in Northern Ethiopia: the case of Southern and Central Tigray, Ethiopia. SpringerPlus 5, 1692.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Gbetibouo GA (2009) Understanding farmers perceptions and adaptations to climate change and variability: the case of the limpopo basin farmers South Africa. International Food Policy Research Institute, Center for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa. p. 2. Available at www.ifpri.org

Gebreeyesus KA (2017) Impact of climate change on the agro-ecological innovation of coffee agroforestry systems in central Kenya. Ph.D thesis, SupAgro, Montpellier, France.

Gemenne F, Blocher J, De Longueville F, Vigil Diaz Telenti S, Zickgraf C, Gharbaoui D, Ozer P (2017) Changement climatique, catastrophes naturelles et déplacements de populations en Afrique de l’Ouest. Geo-Eco-Trop 41(3), 317-337 Available at https://www.geoecotrop.be/uploads/publications/pub_413_02.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Gnanglè CP, Glèlè-Kakaï R, Assogbadjo AE, Vodounnon S, Yabi AJ, Sokpon eN (2011) Tendances climatiques passées, modélisation, perceptions et adaptations locales au Bénin. Climatologie 8, 27-40.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Guillén Velarde R, de la Peña Valdivia M (2012) Recherche sur les conséquences du changement sur les femmes et les processus migratoires: le cas de la haute région andine péruvienne. Recherche & Plaidoyer, Le Monde selon les femmes: Dépôt légal: D/2012-7926-03. Available at https://genderclimatetracker.org/sites/default/files/Resources/Puno_Peru.pdf

Herrero M, Grace D, Njuki J, Johnson N, Enahoro D, Silvestri S, Rufino MC (2013) The roles of livestock in developing countries. Animal 7(S1), 3-18.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hitayezu P, Wale E, Ortmann G (2017) Assessing farmers’ perceptions about climate change: a double-hurdle approach. Climate Risk Management 17, 123-138.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hounzangbé-Adote MS, Azando E, Awohouedji Y (2011) Biodiversité dans les zones d’élevage des petits ruminants Mammifères domestiques Bénin. In ‘Atlas de la biodiversité en Afrique de l’Ouest’. (Eds B Sinsin, D Kampmann) pp. 505–518. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262564761

Idrissou Y, Assani SA, Baco MN, Alkoiret TI (2020) Determinants of cattle farmers’ perception of climate change in the dry and sub-humid tropical zones of Benin (West Africa). In ‘African handbook of climate change adaptation’. (Eds W Leal Filho, N Ogugu, L Adelake, D Ayal, I da Silva) pp. 1–16. (Springer Nature: Cham) 10.1007/978-3-030-42091-8_16-1

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2019) Climate change and land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. IPCC. p. 43. Available at https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/08/4.-SPM_Approved_Microsite_FINAL.pdf

IPCC (2012) Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation. A special report of working groups I and II of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 582.

Jélu M, Bourgeais SV (2015) La place des femmes en élevage. In ‘4^èmes Rencontres nationales travail en élevage, Atelier 12’. (Ed. K Brulat) pp. 110–117. (Institut de l’élevage) Available at https://idele.fr/fileadmin/medias/Documents/Atelier_12_def.pdf

Jemaa T, Huguenin J, Moulin C-H, Najar eT (2016) Les systèmes d’élevage de petits ruminants en Tunisie Centrale: stratégies différenciées et adaptations aux transformations du territoire. Cahiers Agricultures 25(4), 45005.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Juana JS, Kahaka Z, Okurut FN (2013) Farmers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change in sub-Sahara Africa: a synthesis of empirical studies and implications for public policy in African Agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Science 5(4), 121-135.
| Google Scholar |

Kabore PN, Barbier B, Ouoba P, Kiema A, Some L, Ouedraogo A (2019) Perceptions du changement climatique, impacts environnementaux et stratégies endogènes d’adaptation par les producteurs du Centre-nord du Burkina Faso. VertigO 19(1), 27 Available at https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065432ar.
| Google Scholar |

Karimi V, Karami E, Keshavarz M (2017) Vulnerability and adaptation of livestock producers to climate variability and change. Rangeland Ecology & Management 71(2), 175-184.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Kimaro EG, Mor SM, Toribio J-ALML (2018) Climate change perception and impacts on cattle production in pastoral communities of northern Tanzania. Pastoralism 8, 19.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Kosmowski F, Leblois A, Sultan B (2016) Perceptions of recent rainfall changes in Niger: a comparison between climate-sensitive and non-climate sensitive households. Climatic Change 135(2), 227-241.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Leila R (2014) Le genre et le changement climatique, réalités sur le lien, projet GEPE, 54-58. Available at http://uest.ntua.gr/adapttoclimate/proceedings/full_paper/Rajhi.pdf

Mapiye C, Chimonyo M, Dzama K (2009) Seasonal dynamics, production potential and efficiency of cattle in the sweet and sour communal rangelands in South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 73(4–5), 529-536.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Mehu (2011) ‘Deuxième communication nationale de la république du Bénin sur les changements climatiques.’ (Eds SG Akindele, E Ahlonsou, N Aho) p. 168. (Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Habitat et de l’Urbanisme: Cotonou). Available at https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/bennc2f.pdf

Morton JF (2007) The impact of climate change on smallholder and subsistence agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(50), 19680-19685.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Naqvi SMK, Sejian V (2011) Global climate change: role of livestock. Asian Journal of Agricultural Science 3(1), 19-25.
| Google Scholar |

National Association of Professional Organizations of Ruminant Breeders (2014) La situation actuelle de l’élevage et des éleveurs de ruminants au Bénin. Annexe du document d’orientation stratégique de l’Anoper, 68 p [in French]. Available at https://www.inter-reseaux.org/wp-content/uploads/DOS_ANOPER-1.pdf

Nnko HJ, Gwakisa PS, Ngonyoka A, Estes A (2021) Climate change and variability perceptions and adaptations of pastoralists’ communities in the Maasai Steppe, Tanzania. Journal of Arid Environments 185, 104337.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Owusu M, Nursey-Bray M, Rudd D (2019) Gendered perception and vulnerability to climate change in urban slum communities in Accra, Ghana. Regional Environmental Change 19, 13-25.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ozer P, Hountondji Y-C, Niang AJ, Karimoune S, Laminou Manzo O, Salmon M (2010) Désertification au Sahel: historique et perspectives. Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège 54, 69-84.
| Google Scholar |

Rankoana SA (2018) Human perception of climate change. Weather 73(11), 367-370.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Sanogo K, Binam J, Bayala J, Villamor BG, Kalinganire A, Dodiomon S (2017) Farmers’ perceptions of climate change impacts on ecosystem services delivery of parklands in southern Mali. Agroforestry Systems 91(2), 345-361.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Simelton E, Quinn CH, Batisani N, Dougill AJ, Dyer JC, Fraser EDG, Mkwambisi D, Sallu S, Stringer LC (2013) Is rainfall really changing? Farmers’ perceptions, meteorological data, and policy implications. Climate and Development 5(2), 123-138.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Stringer LC, Akhtar-Scuster M, Marques MJ, Amiraslani F, Quatrini S, Abraham EM (2011) Combating land degradation and desertification and enhancing food security: towards integrated solutions. Annals of Arid Zone 50(3&4), 243-256.
| Google Scholar |

Touré G, Ouattara Z (2001) Elevage urbain des ovins par les femmes à Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Cahiers Agricultures 10(1), 45-49 Available at https://revues.cirad.fr/index.php/cahiers-agricultures/article/view/30278.
| Google Scholar |

Uddin MN, Bokelmann W, Dunn ES (2017) Determinants of farmers’ perception of climate change: a case study from the coastal region of Bangladesh. American Journal of Climate Change 6, 151-165.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

UN (2018) The Sustainable Development Goals Report, 40p: António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, New York. Available at https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2018/thesustainabledevelopmentgoalsreport2018-en.pdf

UNEP (2011) Sécurité des moyens d’existence. Changements climatiques, migrations et conflits au Sahel. Programme des Nations Unies pour l’Environnement, Genève, Suisse. p. 108.

Vodounou JBK, Doubogan eYO (2016) Agriculture paysanne et stratégies d’adaptation au changement climatique au Nord-Bénin. European Journal of Geography 18, 27836.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

World Bank (2012) Rapport sur le développement dans le monde: L’égalité des sexes et le développement. World Bank. ©World Bank. Available at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/4391

Yegbemey RN, Yabi JA, Aïhounton GB, Paraïso A (2014) Modélisation simultanée de la perception et de l’adaptation au changement climatique: cas des producteurs de maïs du Nord Bénin (Afrique de l’Ouest). Cahiers Agricultures 23(3), 177-187.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |